News 2006: Motorbase Unveils BTCC Plans for 2007

27th September

The Motorbase Performance team will mount its biggest campaign so far in 2007 when it fields two ex-works SEATs in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.

"It's going to be exciting," says team boss David Bartrum. "We're going to run two SEATs in the BTCC. There are the ex-works cars driven by James Pickford and Luke Hines in 2005.They are an older car, but they are Super 2000 spec and there are very few of those about that are a proven quantity."

Motorbase has enjoyed a successful 2006 season, contesting the BTCC with David Pinkney and the Porsche Carrera Cup GB with a three-car team of Tim Harvey, Michael Caine and Phil Quaife.

In 2007, the team will expand to run the SEATs along with a multi-car Carrera Cup squad. "It's a multi-year plan for Motorbase," says Bartrum of the BTCC campaign. "And we'll continue in Carrera Cup, of course, with three or four cars. We're hoping to have one of the touring cars out for the last round of this season at Silverstone, with a driver yet to be confirmed. We're interested in talking to drivers about the 2007 BTCC."

Significantly, the SEATs comply with the Super 2000 regulations, which are taking centre stage in the BTCC from 2007 onwards. "From our point of view, this will be a holding year while the rules settle down. There aren't many Super 2000 cars that will be easily obtained and hopefully this will open the door for an on-going relationship with SEAT to move on to later cars in following years. This is a stand-alone effort, but SEAT obviously wants the cars to be properly presented and running strongly."

Bartrum knows that it will be a major commitment, but the team has the resources and skills to do an excellent job. "This will be our most ambitious season yet. We've worked very hard this year to establish ourselves with drivers like Tim Harvey, David Pinkney and Michael Caine. My team has worked very hard this year, both the fulltime and part-time staff. The guys have been brilliant."

For more details, contact David Bartrum at Motorbase Performance on 01732 822266.